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Decolonisation and Local Government in Namibia: the Neo-Apartheid Plan, 1977–83

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 November 2008

David Simon
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Extract

Namibia is distinctive in Africa for at least three significant reasons. First of all, it remains the continent's last colony in defiance of world opinion and the United Nations. Secondly, it has experienced Africa's longest armed liberation struggle apart from South Africa, with no end yet in sight. Thirdly, and most importantly, that conflict is not being waged against some distant metropolitan power, but Namibia's dominant and pariah neighbour. Just as this geographical contiguity has facilitated South African attempts to retain control over Namibia, it seems certain to impose severe constraints on the scope for pursuing independent policies once Namibian sovereignty is finally achieved.

Type
Articles
Information
The Journal of Modern African Studies , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , September 1985 , pp. 507 - 526
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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References

page 507 note 1 Moorsom, Richard, ‘Namibia in the Frontline: the political economy of decolonisation in South Africa's colony’, in Review of African Political Economy (Sheffield), 17, 1980, pp. 71–82;Google ScholarAbrahams, Kenneth, ‘Namibia: independence negotiations or a transition to neocolonialism?’, in The Namibian Review (Windhoek), 23, 12 1981, pp. 1–4;Google ScholarSeiler, John, ‘South Africa in Namibia: persistence, misperception, and ultimate failure’, in The Journal of Modern African Studies (Cambridge), 20, 4, 12 1982, pp. 689–712;Google Scholar and Simon, David, Contemporary Namibia: the political geography of decolonization (Oxford, 1983), Oxford University School of Geography Research Paper No. 31.Google Scholar

page 508 note 1 Simon, David, ‘Aspects of Urban Change in Windhoek, Namibia, during the Transition to Independence’, D.Phil. dissertation, University of Oxford, 1983.Google Scholar

page 508 note 2 Wasserman, Gary, Politics of Decolonisation: Kenya Europeans and the land issue, 1960–1965 (Cambridge, 1976).CrossRefGoogle Scholar

page 508 note 3 Simon, David, ‘Desegregation in Namibia: the demise of urban apartheid?’, in Geoforum (Oxford), forthcoming,Google Scholar and ‘Urban Squatting, Low Income Housing and Politics in Namibia on the Eve of Independence’, in Obudho, Robert A. (ed.), Slum and Squatter Settlements in Africa: towards a planning strategy (New York), forthcoming.Google Scholar

page 510 note 1 Simon, Contemporary Namibia.

page 512 note 1 du Preeze, Max, ‘Namibia's New Regime: no honourable peace’, in Work in Progress (Johannesburg), 36, 1985, pp. 14–17;Google ScholarThe Guardian (London), 18 June 1985; Namibia in Focus (London), 15, 1985; Namibia News Briefing (London), 24, June, 25, July/August, and 26, August 1985; and The Observer (London), 16 June 1985.

page 512 note 2 Namibia News Briefing, 24–26.

page 513 note 1 Ashton, E. H., A Tale of Three Cities (Harare, 1977), University of Zimbabwe, Centre for Applied Social Studies, ‘Issues in Development’, Reprint 3;Google Scholar and Greenwood, Alan andHowell, John, ‘Urban Local Authorities’, in Tordoff, William (ed.), Administration in Zambia (Manchester and Madison, 1980), pp. 162–84.Google Scholar

page 515 note 1 City of Windhoek, Versing van Sy Edelagbare die Burgemeester, Raadslid Ds. A.G.C. Tssel, vir die Burgelike Jaar Geëindigg Maart 1978 (Windhoek, 1978). p. 7.

page 516 note 1 South-West Africa, ‘Verslag van die Komitee van Ondersoek na die Instelling van 'n Munisipaliteit vir die Kleurlingdorp Khomasdal’, Windhoek, unpublished report, 1978, pp. 6–7, my translation.

page 516 note 2 Ibid. p. 7, my emphasis.

page 516 note 3 Ibid. p. 5.

page 517 note 1 This Committee was investigating the feasibility of separate municipal status for coloured townships in South Africa during 1978–9.

page 518 note 1 This is an umbrella body for Namibian municipalities, which send delegates to its conferences.

page 518 note 2 The eight committee members were Windhoek's Town Clerk (Convenor), City Secretary, City Treasurer, and Legal Advisor, and four officials from other municipalities. The Director of Katutura and the Secretary of the Peri-Urban Development Board were later included.

page 519 note 1 Unpublished minute, my translation. The Mayor is apparently a member of the secret Afrikaner Broederbond; see Wilkins, Ivor and Strydom, Hans. The Broederbond (New York and London, 1979), p. A6.Google Scholar

page 519 note 2 Unpublished minute, November 1979.

page 520 note 1 South-West Africa/Namibia, Verslag van die Kommissie van Ondersoek na Munisipale Wetgewing (Windhoek, 1980–1), V. 1, p. 7, my translation.

page 521 note 1 Die Suidwester (Windhoek), 11 and 12 March 1981; Die Republikein (Windhoek), 12 and 13 March 1981; and The Windhoek Advertiser, 18 March 1981.

page 522 note 1 South-West Africa/Namibia, Verslag van die Kommissie van Ondersoek na die Finansiële Verhoudings Tussen Sentrale, Verteenwoordigende en Plaaslike Owerhede (Windhoek, 1981); South-West Africa/Namibia, Stellingname van die Ministersraad oor die Verslag van die Kommissie van Ondersoek na die Finansiële Verhoudings Tussen Sentrale, Verteenwoordigende en Plaaslike Owerhede (Windhoek, 1981); Die Republikein, 20 March and 3 April 1981; and Die Suidwester, 3 April 1981.

page 522 note 2 By contrast, the report of the Browne Committee in South Africa discounted such additional revenue sources for local authorities. See The Financial Mail (Johannesburg), 24 October 1980, p. 382.

page 522 note 3 The Arnold Commission argued, conversely, that all government buildings should be rateable.

page 522 note 4 Verslag van die Kommissie van Ondersoek na die Finansiële Verhoudings, pp. 51–6 and 68–9.

page 522 note 5 Stellingname van die Ministersraad, pp. 5–6.

page 523 note 1 Ibid. p. 6; and City of Windhoek, Mayoral Report 1980: Councillor S. G. Beukes, (Windhoek, 1981), pp. 11 and 22–4. The Committee's report was not made public.

page 523 note 2 The Windhoek Advertiser, 16 and 19 March, and 2 and 29 April 1982; and The Windhoek Observer, 20 March, 8 April, and 1 May 1982.

page 523 note 3 Simon ‘Desegregation in Namibia’.

page 525 note 1 The Windhoek Advertiser, 18 and 21 November 1981; and The Windhoek Observer, 21 November 1981.

page 525 note 2 Howell, John, Local Government and Politics in the Sudan (Khartoum, 1974)Google Scholar; Ashton, op. cit.; Gargett, E., Social Administration in a Changing Context (Harare, 1977), University of Zimbabwe Centre for Applied Social Studies,‘Issues in Development’, reprint 8Google Scholar; and Greenwood and Howell, loc. cit.

page 525 note 3 Cf. Rogerson, Christian M., ‘A future “University of Namibia”?: the role of the United Nations Institute for Namibia’, in The Journal of Modern African Studies, 18, 4, 12 1980, pp. 675–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

page 526 note 1 Simon, ‘Urban Squatting, Low Income Housing and Politics in Namibia’.